People often ask: what drives someone to start their own tea company? Why, in a world of big brands, supermarkets, and convenience, would I choose to dive into the world of loose teas, exotic new varietals, and all the logistics that go along with sourcing, packaging and shipping? The answer is simple, passion, curiosity, and the conviction that tea is more than a drink. In this article, I want to share with you how Great Tea came to life, what it means to me, and what I hope to offer to tea lovers everywhere.

A humble beginning — the everyday cup

Like many tea drinkers, my early experiences were unremarkable: tea bags, milk, a bit of sugar perhaps, a quick cup in the morning or during a break. That was “tea” to me for years, unexciting, functional, reliable. But as my life expanded, through travel, friendships, and exposure to different cultures, I began to see that there was another side to tea, one rich in nuance, ritual, and possibility.

Over time I encountered loose-leaf teas, infusions, specialty blends, and regional teas that awakened my curiosity. I found that there was a whole spectrum of flavour, aroma, mouthfeel, and character that the everyday bag simply never touched. Once you have that “aha moment”, tasting a top-quality green tea, a delicate white, or a complex oolong, there’s no going back.

On our website, we tell part of this journey: “Like many people, our journey to discover our love of tea started with plain old tea bags, everyday tea. However, our travels and work introduced us to real loose-leaf teas, and that opened our eyes to what is really out there to be enjoyed…”

That idea — “opened our eyes”, really captures it. Once you see what’s possible, the familiar cup feels like a pale reflection.

The turning point: travel, exposure, inspiration

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel, stay in exclusive hotels, dine in Michelin-starred restaurants, and even visit historic sites and palaces. In those settings, hospitality is an art, from the service, the ambiance, the tableware, to the smallest detail: the beverages we consume. Tea is often part of that ritual. Serving tea in those environments is not an afterthought: it is carefully curated, the leaves, the water, the temperature, the vessel.

Experiencing tea in those premium contexts changed how I thought about it. It wasn’t just a default beverage; it was an experience. I admired that the tea selection, the preparation, the presentation all signaled care, quality and respect for tradition. That planted a seed: perhaps this is something worth bringing home, making accessible beyond the rarefied hotel lobbies and grand dining rooms.

We reflect this in our “Our Journey” narrative on the site: “Over the years, we have been lucky to be exposed to some very exclusive hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and the odd Royal palace or two. Great hospitality starts with a drink … Drinking tea, taking tea is an experience — one we want to share.”

That concept, sharing the experience, became central to what Great Tea would become.

Gaps in the market: quality, transparency and accessibility

Another driver behind starting Great Tea was frustration, frustration with how the tea market is often opaque, underwhelming, or compromised. Many teas in supermarkets or retail channels are packaged to travel and sit on shelves, sometimes losing freshness or character. Others are blended with cheaper leaves, lacking transparency in origin or grade.

I saw that many tea enthusiasts (or those wanting to become enthusiasts) faced barriers: finding reliably high-quality teas, understanding steeping guidelines, figuring out where to buy niche teas affordably in the UK, or even trusting that a tea vendor cared about authenticity.

To me, there was a gap: bring truly fine teas, from good sources, presented transparently (origin, grade, flavour notes), with supporting information (brewing guides, tasting notes), to a broader audience, without pretension, but with integrity.

Thus, Great Tea is not just about selling teas. It’s about demystifying tea, educating, and enabling enjoyment. Our catalog already reflects a range of styles, Black and Puer Tea , Green Tea, White Tea, Oolong Tea, Floral and Herbal Tea, even Cha Gao Tea, all curated to invite exploration.

Building trust: sourcing, curation, education

It’s one thing to say “I want to sell great teas.” It’s another to do it with authenticity and consistency. To that end:

Sourcing with respect: I wanted to cultivate relationships with growers or suppliers who care about quality, sustainability, fair practices, not just commodity suppliers. This sometimes means paying more, but also knowing where every leaf came from.

Curated selection: Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, I chose to start with a refined selection — teas that represent excellence in their category. Every tea in our “Our Teas” lineup has a story, a reason, and a place.

Transparency and information: Each tea is accompanied by origin, tasting notes, ideal brewing methods, and photographs. I believe tea lovers deserve more than just a label, they deserve context and confidence.

User experience: From the website design, user interface, clear navigation (black teas, green teas, white, oolong, floral, Cha Gao) to shipping and packaging, I wanted every touchpoint to feel considered, elegant, yet approachable.

Community and voice: I see Great Tea as more than a shop: it’s a hub for tea lovers. That means blog content, sharing brewing tips, highlighting new teas, telling stories, and listening to customers.

Personal purpose, more than commerce

At its core, this isn’t just a business venture; it’s deeply personal. I believe tea has power, to calm, to spark conversation, to transport us in time or mood. I wanted to build something that brings delight not just to me, but to others.

Sometimes the greatest satisfaction is getting a message from a customer: “I tasted something I never knew existed,” or “You’ve introduced me to my new favourite tea,” or “I tried your tea at a friend’s house and had to buy.” That reward makes the long hours, logistics challenges, supplier negotiations, and brewing experiments all worthwhile.

Moreover, in a fast world, offering something slow, something ritualistic and reflective, such as a carefully brewed cup, feels like small resistance to the rush. Great Tea is an invitation: pause, steep, sip, savour.

The challenges and lessons so far

Starting Great Tea has not been without its hurdles. Here are a few challenges and what they’ve taught me:

Supply chain and freshness: Shipping teas across long distances, ensuring freshness, managing customs/duties, and packaging that preserves aroma, these are significant logistical challenges. But solving them is part of the promise: a tea should arrive as alive as possible.

Educating customers: Many potential customers are used to tea bags with fixed steeping instructions. Explaining loose-leaf dosing, water temperature, steep time, multiple infusions, there is a learning curve. But by breaking the barrier with clear guides, blog posts, and FAQs, I aim to make it less daunting.

Pricing balance: Exceptional teas often cost more at origin. Striking the balance between high quality and a price customers feel is fair has been an ongoing tension. But I’ve resolved that I’d rather offer fewer, excellent teas than a broad but mediocre range.

Marketing and awareness: In a crowded market, establishing a new brand and building trust takes time, consistent voice, and genuine value. I’ve learned patience and the importance of community (word-of-mouth, social engagement, content) rather than superficial “fast-growth” pushes.

Feedback and iteration: Some teas I thought would resonate didn’t sell as expected; some packaging ideas didn’t translate. I’ve learned to listen to customers, adjust, improve, iterate. The journey is continuous.

What Great Tea hopes to offer you

As you explore Great Tea, there are a few things I hope you’ll find:

1. Discovery and delight. I want you to discover a tea you’ve never tasted, fall in love with nuance, experiment with iced teas (e.g. Peach Oolong iced) or multi-infusion steeping, and delight in the unfolding experience. The site says: “What many people don’t realise is, you can get a lot more out of your tea experience … a world away from those big-brand shop-bought iced teas.”

2. Trust and authenticity. Every tea comes with its story, origin, and guide. There are no hidden blends or mysterious “flavour enhancers.” You can trust that what you see is what you will taste.

3. Accessibility. While we don’t pretend to compete on price with bulk supermarket blends, I aim to keep pricing honest, shipping reasonable (with free shipping over £100), and portions manageable (so you can try without committing to huge quantities).

4. Community and learning. The blog, the “Our Tea Blog” section, and content will deepen your knowledge: steeping tips, tasting notes, comparisons, even stories of the producers, tea culture and history. I want to walk this journey with you, not just sell you tea.

5. Ritual and pause. Amid busy schedules, an act as simple as brewing tea — thoughtfully — can offer ritual, calm, connection. I hope Great Tea gives you that small but meaningful respite.

A few teas we’re proud of

To give a concrete sense, here are examples (from our catalog) of teas that embody what Great Tea seeks:

Golden Spiral Dianhong Black Tea with Tangerine Peel: This tea echoes the depth of the Golden Spiral Dianhong Black Tea, with a brighter, more delicate flavour with Tangerine peel.

Puer Tea Oranges: A stunning harmony of earth and citrus, made by hollowing out young green tangerines, filling them with aged shu Puer tea.

Chinese Milk Oolong Tea: A silky, creamy oolong that showcases how processing and terroir combine to create something deliciously unexpected.

Cloud Mist Green Tea: A fresh, fragrant green, ideal as an entry-level “excellent green” that surprises with clarity of flavour.

Gongmei (Tribute Eyebrow) Aged White Tea with Tangerine Peel: A more adventurous, aged white tea blended with citrus peel — complex, mellow, evocative.

We have also discovered Cha Gao Tea, a concentrated tea extract made from compressed Puer tea, offering a rich, full-bodied flavour that dissolves instantly in hot water.

Each tea carries a piece of the story, in origin, flavour profile, and method of preparation.

Looking forward: growth, dreams, and your journey

So where do I see Great Tea going from here? A few hopes and directions:

Wider range, deeper stories: More discovery teas, more rare finds, perhaps seasonal or limited batches, directly from growers I trust.

Workshops, tastings, events: Hosting live tastings, teaching steeping classes, collaborating with cafés or shops to bring tea experience in person.

Collaborations: Collaborating with tea growers, cultural institutions, even chefs or mixologists to explore tea in food, drink, and creative application.

Sustainability and ethics: As we grow, continuing to source responsibly, minimize waste, improve packaging, perhaps even carbon offset or partner with tea sustainability initiatives.

Growing community: This is a two-way path. I want to hear your stories, new tea finds, feedback. The community of tea lovers is what will shape Great Tea.

Final throughts

Why did I start Great Tea? Because tea deserves more than “just functional beverage status.” Because the moment I discovered the richness and potential of high-quality teas, I couldn’t un-see it. Because I wanted to bring that beauty, that ritual, that flavour to others. Because I believe in transparency, integrity, and the joy of discovery. And because I believe that even in a small way, sharing a great cup of tea can make someone’s day a little better.

If you’ve read this far, thank you, for wanting to know the story. The next step is simple: brew a cup, taste, explore, and let me know what you think. Here’s to many cups ahead.